James Franklin — sitting at his Blue-White game press conference, staring into the cameras — could not have been clearer when discussing the need for a transfer portal linebacker.
“We’re in good shape, but there’s some concerns there,” Franklin said in the Beaver Stadium media room. “We lost a guy that we didn’t anticipate losing. We’re not a big portal team, but we’re going to have to address some issues. So if there’s a linebacker out there that wants to come and be a part of our program and play for LBU, the most historic linebacker program in the history of college football, there’s an opportunity here to join the room and compete.”
Franklin said that April 26. Ten days later, Penn State addressed its linebacker issue by securing a commitment from North Carolina transfer Amare Campbell.
Campbell, one of the best linebackers in the spring portal, committed to Penn State on Tuesday. The athletic playmaker fills a need for the Nittany Lions, who were already a little thin at the position before Ta’Mere Robinson (Brashear) surprisingly transferred to USC.
With Robinson gone, Campbell in the fold and spring ball complete, let’s take a look at the state of the room at Linebacker U.
Departures
Kobe King (NFL), Tyler Elsdon (graduation), Ta’Mere Robinson (portal)
King, a second-team All-Big Ten pick, left a year early for the draft, to the surprise of some in Happy Valley. King, a 27-game starter and a leader on the defense, was a sixth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings. Elsdon, meanwhile, was a rotational veteran with 812 snaps and 13 starts over five seasons. The North Schuylkill grad provided experienced cover.
Robinson wasn’t going to start, especially with Jim Knowles set to employ a 4-2-5 scheme. But the Pittsburgh native was going to have a role as a third-year player. His stunning departure increased Penn State’s urgency to add a transfer linebacker.
Returning
Dom DeLuca, Tony Rojas, DaKaari Nelson, Keon Wylie, Kari Jackson, Anthony Speca
Rojas and DeLuca were always expected to be starters this fall. Rojas made some splashy plays in 2024, his first full season as a starter. But the uber-athletic linebacker, who was out of position at times, is just scratching the surface of what he can be as a player. It’s worth noting that Rojas missed spring camp with an injury but is expected to be good for the fall.
DeLuca had 40 tackles, four TFLs and three interceptions last year. The Wyoming Area grad, who is set to be a captain for a third time in five seasons, is a leader in the locker room.
Wylie, who missed the 2024 season with an injury, earned playing time in 2022 and 2023 and could be an under-the-radar contributor this fall. Nelson made the switch from safety to linebacker and is still coming into his own. Speca is coming off a positive spring camp entering his second season. Jackson, like Wylie, saw his 2024 campaign derailed by an injury.
Additions
LaVar Arrington II (enrollee), Alex Tatsch (Latrobe, enrollee), Cam Smith (signee), Amare Campbell (portal)
If Arrington, Tatsch or Smith emerge in August training camp, that would be great for Penn State’s depth. But with Robinson leaving and several linebackers coming off injuries, it was obvious Penn State needed some help from the portal.
What’s unclear right now is how Campbell fits into Knowles’ system and what his role will be. There’s a chance he unseats DeLuca as one of two starters in a 4-2-5 setup. There’s a chance Campbell, who had 10 1/2 TFLs and 6 1/2 sacks, could be used in blitzing subpackages. We’ll find out more about how Campbell will be utilized in training camp.
But the addition of Campbell, a proven commodity and playmaker, is significant. It alleviates some reps on Rojas and DeLuca. It also provides more competition for Wylie and Speca.